Max Rietkerk

Max Rietkerk is a full professor of Spatial Ecology and Global Change at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. His expertise lies in fields such as Ecological Complexity, Global Change, Spatial Ecology, Self-organization, Critical Transitions, Catastrophic Shifts, and Pattern Formation.

His research focuses on understanding how ecosystems self-organize into spatial patterns, indicating complex systems' behavior. By studying processes at different scales, he explores concepts like resilience, tipping points, and critical transitions towards alternative ecosystem configurations.

As the coordinator of the research Master 'Environmental Change and Ecosystems', Max is deeply involved in teaching and research on Ecology, Environmental Sciences, and topics related to Global Change and Ecosystems. His work underscores the importance of feedback mechanisms within ecosystems and their interconnectedness with climate systems.

Max Rietkerk's academic background includes a BSc/Ing in Land and Water Management from Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, a PhD/Dr in Environmental and Agricultural Sciences (cum laude), and an MSc/Ir in Land and Water Management (cum laude) from Wageningen University & Research.

Throughout his career, Max has held various positions at Utrecht University, progressing from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor and eventually to his current role as a Full Professor. He has also worked as a Postdoc and PhD Researcher at Wageningen University and held a role as an 'Ing Spatial Planning Agriculture' at the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature, and Food Quality in the Netherlands.

Max Rietkerk has an extensive publication record with over 100 articles in international refereed scientific journals, including prestigious publications like Nature and Science.